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*************IMPORTANT UPDATE- THERE IS A PAGE 6 added as of Friday August 28, 2020***********************************
So once again layoff has been sprung upon us at the last minute. Ford Motor Company does not qualify for the CEWS (wage subsidy program) and therefore you will have to apply for EI Regular Benefits due to shortage of work. Service Canada will NOT be providing a reference code for this layoff week so any application will be the long form. There will be NO REFERENCE CODE. The old codes do NOT work (I have provided a separate guide to help you through this process). If you have a claim established already then you will NOT have to serve a waiting period again. Many of you may have closed your claim by reporting a return to work and now wonder why we had suggested you do this. The simple answer is that by closing your claim you kept yourself out of danger of forgetting to report or receiving benefits that you were not entitled to. Below, I have put together a few scenarios to help you thru this temporary layoff. Look for the scenario that you fit into and follow the guideline I have laid out.
-You are working during the layoff week, you are collecting S&A, or have vacation booked.
If this is your scenario then do NOT apply for EI at this time.
-You had an EI application and were being paid by EI or CERB and you closed your claim, as recommended, by reporting a return to work.
If this is your scenario then you just need to complete a NEW application for regular EI benefits. You can follow the step by step guide I have provided on our Unifor 707 website.
-You had an EI application and were being paid by EI or CERB and you have continued your reports and you have kept your reports up to date.
If this is your scenario then you only need to continue your reports as requested by EI and report $0 for the layoff week.
-You had an EI application and were being paid by EI or CERB and you left you claim open……but you have forgotten to report and now when you try it states you are too late and need to contact EI.
If this is your scenario, you will probably need some assistance to have this corrected. The easiest way for you is to work with me. You will need to ensure you have an EI CONSENT form completed so that I may deal with EI on your behalf. Once completed, I will send this to Service Canada and report your return to work at a previous date (June 8). Then you will need to make a NEW application for regular EI benefits. You can follow the step by step guide I have provided on our Unifor 707 website.
EI consent forms are also available on our site. Complete the form sign it and return it to me with some details on your situation. I ask that you provide a brief explanation so that I can know your situation to help correct it.
-You have NOT applied for EI benefits in the last year or more. This is your first application to EI.
If this is your scenario then you need to complete a NEW application for regular EI benefits. You can follow the step by step guide I have provided on our Unifor 707 website. Be prepared to serve a 1 week waiting period. The government may send your claim to be paid be CERB.
Please NOTE:
Even if you had been in receipt of CERB payment, you should still apply for EI Regular Benefit. The government introduced the CERB to help during the COVID pandemic. It is NOT an established program and has been evolving since it began. We are laid off due to a shortage of work and should apply and report as such. If the government sends your claim to CERB for payment that is their decision and if we run into issues later, we can argue that CERB was not your intent nor your decision.
**Also note that some EI applications will differ slightly in the questions asked. This is based on the region in which you live. I have put together a second walk thru to try to encompass some of the alternate questions asked. If you are stuck answering a question try referring to the other step by step I have provided.
In solidarity,
Paul Ivey Tim Batke
UNIFOR Local 707 Unit# 1 Alternate Benefit Rep Benefit Representative
August 21th, 2020
SEE ATTACHMENT BELOW
Please Forward Completed Consent form directly to Paul Ivey’s email at pivey@ford.com
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